The Price

The following piece of fiction is written for KFC 'Sets you on fire' contest at Indiblogger.in.The details for this contest can be found here.

Simran stiffened as she noticed Radhika standing beside her at the coffee machine.She quickly filled her cup and retreated to her office,averting Radhika's gaze.Radhika looked on in the direction Simran left and an inaudible sigh escaped her lips.Barely a month ago,they had been inseparable;lunches,snacks,weekend hangouts-they clung to each other for everything.But four weeks back,things became..a bit complicated.
***
"A new person will be put in charge of finance,"Mr.Mehra had said,slowly scanning his eyes across the group of five executives assembled in his office."Seventy K salary plus perks.You will be pleased to know that management has short-listed you folks for the post."

Not able to contain her excitement,Radhika had nudged a still Simran while Mr.Mehra paused for effect.

"I will have the final say as to who bags the promotion."For some queer reason, Mr.Mehra's voice had suddenly started sounding ominous to Simran.For a split second,she sensed his eyes boring into hers.Or did she just imagine that?

As they had shuffled out of Mr.Mehra's plush office,Simran was awefully silent.Radhika had asked her what was wrong,but Simran merely shrugged the question off.From that day onwards,Radhika noticed subtle changes in her friend's behaviour.She didn't seem so eager anymore to co-operate in their assignments.She mailed the status reports to Mr.Mehra without keeping Radhika in the loop.She even started inventing excuses to skip going to lunches and snacks together.

For a few consecutive days,Radhika noticed her friend was staying back late in office.On being aksed about it,Simran had nonchanlantly replied that she was clearing off some backlog work.One day,Radhika entered office to find Mr.Jaiswal,Mehra's immediate boss,praising Simran profusely.

"What was that all about?"Radhika quizzed Sakshi,one of her colleagues.

"That assignment Mehra had assigned to both of you-Simran just completed it single-handedly.Mehra brought it to Mr.Jaiswal's notice and he was pretty impressed.He even asked her to work on some important client presentation.Looks like Simran just went a couple of notches higher towards grabbing that promotion,"Sakshi chuckled mirthlessly.

"Assignment?What assignment?"Radhika gaped at her colleague.A bewildered look clouded her face.

"What?"Sakshi stared back at her."You mean Simran didn't tell you anything?"

"Nooo,"panic crept into Radhika's tone.

Sakshi's eyes assumed a look of sympathy as the realization of what Simran had done to her dug it's teeth into both her and Radhika.
Her so-called best friend had just jeopardized her shot at the promotion.How could she sink so low?That bitch!!!!
***
After returning from the coffee machine,Radhika paced her cabin floor frantically.Simran was desperate for that promotion.But she needed it too.Direly.
***
"Eighty lacs,"the surgeon stated coldly.

"Eighty lacs?"Radhika's father repeated,aghast at the sum quoted.

"I am sorry,Mr.Sharma,"the surgeon's tone became a bit apologetic."But we are talking about a bone marrow transplant here.Your wife's leukaemia can't be treated otherwise."

Radhika slipped her fingers into those of her father's and tried to speak with as much conviction as she could garner,"It's ok,Dr.Dhawan.We'll arrange the money."

She had no idea how they would be able to arrange that kind of money.Hers was a family of modest means.Her father was retired with a meagre pension.They lived in a rented single-bedroom flat.When she had been younger,her parents had difficulty making both ends meet in their efforts to get their daughter through a decent school and college.She had still not been able to repay in full the loan she had withdrawn for her MBA.There was no way she could raise that astronomical sum through another loan right now.Not without somebody who could pull the strings to get the loan sanctioned anyway.And she knew nobody.
***
As the conversation with the surgeon replayed in her mind,Radhika clenched and unclenched her fists in nervousness.She knew she would hate herself for what she was about to do.But what choice did she have?
***
As Simran made her way back to her cabin,she was surprised to see Radhika slip out of it.

"What were you doing in my office,Rads?"Simran noted with dismay that her tone sounded more accusatory than she had intended.

"I..I needed the stapler,"Radhika stuttered."Mine just ran out of pins.Sorry."

Simran noticed Radhika was trying to evade her eyes.Must be damn uncomfortable after the way I have been treating her,she thought.A flood of guilt was about to sweep across her,but she steeled herself and fought it back.
I can't let that worry me now.Sorry,Rads.I hope I can make it upto you later.

"Good night,Rads." She forced a smile as she wished her former friend.

"Good night,Sims." Saying this,Radhika walked away briskly.Simran looked at her watch.Eleven pm.She stifled a yawn.She would have to call the office cab now.The presentation Mr.Jaiswal had asked for was ready at last.She had been slogging her ass off for the last two days to get it done by tonight.Tomorrow,she would show it to Mr.Mehra for his approval.She was pretty confident he would not have much to add.She had prepared the presentation with meticulous care,ensuring absolutely nothing was amiss.She hoped after this Mr.Mehra would be impressed enough to let her have the promotion.

Simran and Mr.Mehra weren't exactly on the best of terms.She had caught him throwing lecherous glances at her many a time.He complimented her on her looks often.He had even gone to the extent of expressing his crush on her stating that he dreamt about her every now and then.She had felt her skin crawl at his promiscuity.She had told him summarily to forget about it and he had not pressed the matter further.

I don't need to sleep around to move up,you horny bastard!She thought to herself as she got into the cab and left for her home.
***
"The figures are all messed up,Simran!" Mr.Mehra bellowed at her next day as he went over the presentation."How on earth could you be so careless?"

"Wh-what?"Simran's mouth dropped open as Mr.Mehra's harsh words registered in her ears."They can't be!"

"Here,look for yourself."He turned his laptop towards her with a hint of menace."The Operational Expenses matrix is configured all wrong.So is the Financial Income statement.You expect me to show this to Mr.Jaiswal?"

She peered at the screen.He was right.The calculations were all screwed up.But how?

Suddenly it hit her like a bolt."My god,Radhika!" She gasped.

"What?" He cocked his head towards her.

"Radhika.She was in my cabin last night.She must have tampered with my presentation."  She trembled as the words left her mouth.

"Stop blaming others for your lapses,Ms.Mehta!" He admonished."Are you aware what kind of an accusation you are leveling against her?"

"Sir,you have to believe me," she answered in a shaky voice."Radhika.."

"You can say good-bye to that promotion,Ms.Mehta.There is no way I can recommend a careless person for that post."

"Sir,please.You have to listen.I am not making this up." Simran felt herself on the verge of crying.

"Do you entertain even the slightest hope that Mr.Jaiswal is going to allow your promotion once I tell him about this?"

"Sir,please.I am not lying."She choked.A lump was forming in her throat making it difficult for her to speak.She started sobbing."Please don't do this to me." She begged between her sobs.

"Why shouldn't I?" He smiled with malicious relish."Until and unless you make me an offer I can't refuse."

Simran looked at her boss with tear-filled eyes.Her soul revolted.She wanted to throw up.

"Please excuse me,sir!"She fled from the office room.
***
Simran wept in her cabin.What would she tell her parents back in her hometown?They had never sympathized with her ambitions.When she was in school,her father always wanted her to back home before eight,while no such restrictions were placed on her younger brother.Throughout her growing up years,she saw her brother getting the stuff she wanted desperately even without asking for them.While she was denied those outright. Despite her qualifications, her parents ultimately expected her to fall into the traditional mould of wife, mother and homemaker. Her parents had wanted to discontinue her education right after school but she coaxed them into sending her to college and she did her MBA from a prestigious business school.But despite all this,she was under intense pressure from them to get married. To her sheer frustration,it didn't seem to matter to her parents that she was doing so well in her job and that she had certain career aspirations. Marriage just did not figure in her plan right now. And she just knew that they would see no harm in her being expected to give up her career if her prospective husband makes that a condition.


She had pegged her hopes on this promotion.She would finally have something concrete to show her parents and convince them not to push her into marriage.But now she had nothing.


Unless....


Twenty minutes later Simran strode into Mr.Mehra's office.As he looked up at her,she said in a matter-of-fact tone,"My place or yours?"
***
Two days later,Mr.Jaiswal announced Simran's promotion.After everybody finished congratulating her,she noticed Radhika staring at her from a distance.She walked over to her,smiling contemptuously and asked,"So Rads,was what you did really worth it?"


Radhika's face clouded.But the corners of her lips still twitched into a smile and she said,"Congrats,Sims!You deserve it.After all you have been through for it."

Simran's brown eyes narrowed.Did she know what went on between her and her boss?


Radhika didn't stay.She turned on her heel and left.Simran's question rang in her ears.Was what she did really worth it?
***
Three days earlier
"So I screw up her presentation.You refuse to believe her I did it.You threaten not to promote her.She needs the promotion so badly,she will definitely give in.You promote her afterwards.She gets what she wants.You get what you want.Simple." Radhika smiled as he summarized her plan to her boss.

"What if she refuses?"Mr.Mehra asked,steepling his hands.

"Then you don't sanction my loan." Her eyes gleamed.

"Eighty lacs is a huge sum.Even with my contacts,an interest-free loan on that scale might be difficult to arrange."

"Oh,cmon,Mr.Mehra,"she pursed her lips."Both of us know,with your influence at the bank,they will give you anything you ask."

"Even then,why on earth should I promote her?There are four other candidates,including you."

"I don't want the promotion.I just need the money.And you know as well as I,Simran is much better at what she does than any of Sanjay,Kishore and Rakshit."

Mr.Mehra lapsed into silence as Radhika tried her best not to fidget in her chair."Alright,Radhika,"he broke his silence."We have a deal then." He stood up to offer her a handshake.

"It's my pleasure,sir!" She smiled as she took his hand.
***


As Radhika left Simran,her cellphone beeped.It was a text from Mr.Mehra."Your loan has been sanctioned.Congratulations." A smile of satisfied accomplishment spread across her lips.

Radhika was well aware of Simran's family situation .She couldn't bring herself to take away Simran's promotion from her.That would be too cruel.She hit upon a plan where everyone got what they wanted at the end.Of course,she still had her conscience to grapple with.And she felt a pang at their lost friendship.Deception and betrayal..neither she nor Simran had seen that in the friendship contract.But as they say,you lose some to win some.

Everything comes at a price.
**The End**

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:-) Versatile Blogger

I always used to look on in envy at whoever who used to bag a Versatile Blogger award.I used to wonder why no one considers me eligible enough to bestow such awards on.:-P
But anyway,thanks to Dawn Zhang my wait is at last over.Here is my award,yoooohoooo!!!!!! :-D *Back-flip,somersault,cracked crown,ouch!*

I already told you guys about Dawn Zhang,didn't I? Strong,confident and a brilliantly beautiful writer.Thank you so much for giving me this award,Dawn.

So anyway,this awars comes with a rulebook.
Here are the rules:


· Thank and link to the blogger who bestowed the award
· Share seven random facts about yourself
· Spread the love by passing the award to five other bloggers and to let them know

Seven Totally Random Facts about me:-
1.I am an atheist.
2.I am a stupid romantic who still cherishes the naive belief that it is possible to find and fall in love with that one single girl who I can spend the rest of my life with.You know,the one you grow old with,quarrel over who is gonna do the dishes this weekend,crib about how our teenager children are growing  more rebellious each passing day,and all that sort of a thing. :-)
3.I love movies.Especially action and comedy.I love romcoms which have more of comedy than romance.
4.I dream of writing a story one day which is going to make everyone laugh and cry at the same time.
5.I like my job but not my salary.:-P
6.I like disassembling stuff and then putting them back together.
7.I will take a smart girl over a sexy one any damn day.

Now the difficult part.Only five people to give the award to?Shucks!!There are so many on my mind who deserves this award.But okay,let me try.
1.Radhika One superb,sensitive and smashing writer.
2.Rachika A person with a tongue of silver and heart of gold. She is the reason I am still blogging. I am so thankful that blogging afforded me the privilege of getting to know such wonderful human beings like her.Just like her name,she is a bright explosion of creativity and passion.
3.Princess Fiona Poetess supremo.
4.Shreya Pure awesomeness in prose and poetry.
5.Serendipity Now she deserves special mention.A lot of bloggers already know she in one powerhouse of a writer.But she has a 24-carat genuine gilded heart filled with sympathy and sensitivity as well.You should check out her last entry.It is for the KFC contest at IndiBlogger.You won't be able to help yourself.You would just have to become her fan then.She is that good!!:-)

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All right,ol boy!

In an old age home,two men were talking.
"I tell you Ronit,I hate these group photo sessions. When we line up for the picture we look like the snow-covered Himalayas,"the first man cursed."I am seriously considering shaving my hair off and turning bald like you."

"I won't recommend it," the second man replied."Being bald doesn't make me look any younger, it just makes my head look like a fossilized dinosaur egg."

The first man smiled.

"You know,Sanjay," the second man,Ronit,coughed a bit and continued to speak,"I miss those days when we used to roast the hell out of all the newcomers here.All the jokes we cracked at the newbies to lighten the somber mood .It's hard to make fun of someone else's age when you're the one exhibiting all the symptoms of dementia.Why the last time fresh meat was brought in,I forgot half of what I was going to say, and I think I combined the wrong punch line with the wrong joke.Judging by the reaction anyway. It made me remember when I didn't need glasses or any other medical aids to perform the simplest of functions.And pulling others' legs has always been the simplest of functions."

"Yeah,congratulations.We officially graduated to being the grumpy,senile old men who become the butt of everyone's jokes,"Sanjay chuckled.

"Grumpy,huh?" Ronit's weary old eyes flashed momentarily in amusement."You know what makes me grumpy? If I see one more Viagra commercial somebody's gonna get hurt. I don't need someone promising me that my hour hand can be at three o' clock instead of six o' clock all the time. Especially when it comes with serious side effects."

"A friend of  mine tried that stuff,"Sanjay lowered his voice,smiling slyly."He experienced a painful erection lasting longer than four hours.It became so bad,he had to get himself admitted.Hell of an embarrassment.Can you imagine that kinda thing happening to you?"

"Hah!Like I'm actually going to go into a crowded hospital waiting room and inform them that my missile is stuck in the stratosphere. I'd rather tell them I'm having irregular bowel movement  and say -Oh, by the way, could you check below, my flight is experiencing some landing difficulties," Ronit replied with a smug smile.

Sanjay burst out laughing.

"Speaking of side effects, there are some pretty interesting ones for the medicine I take for my constipation as well," Ronit continued with enthusiasm." The medicine that is supposed to provide you relief while you relieve yourself....has two side effects; It gives you a runny nose and your sperm count goes down. Now any medicine that affects my sperm count while it's fixing my sewage disposal is going to make me wonder if the medicine really knows what it's doing down there. After all, it's supposed to be unclogging the drain, not turning  the tap on top into a leaky faucet. And I certainly hope the runny nose isn't a missing link to where the missing sperm are going. I don't want to have to worry about getting some poor girl pregnant every time I sneeze."

"Ha ha,"Sanjay was roaring so hard by now that he had started coughing.

"I could go on but I am feeling drowsy," Ronit smiled wryly."It's the drugs I guess.I am not getting any younger,that's for sure."

Sanjay's coughing didn't stop.

"Hey,Sanjay,you okay?"Ronit asked in a concerned tone.

The coughing showed no signs of lessening.It only grew worse.Sanjay's face contorted in pain as he clutched his chest.Ronit watched with horror as his friend suddenly became unconscious and fell off the chair.

**Five days later**

"Pneumonia?"Sanjay asked in a slightly incredulous tone."You mean to say just a teeny-weeny pneumonia knocked me out?Sheesh!!I was thinking it would at least be a heart attack or something.How on earth am I going to face the guys back at the home,Ronit?I am a blot on the rich heritage of our home's inmates getting knocked off by severe,incurable maladies.Damn!"

"Do me a favour and spare me that sense of humour,"Rohit spat back.

He looked haggard and spent.Spending five nights without a wink of sleep does that you.He was tirelessly doing everything in his power to nurse his friend back to health.Sanjay's condition had been critical.The medics had been apprehensive about his chances of survival.If it had not been for Ronit's indefatigable efforts,and even the doctors had no qualms admitting this,Sanjay probably would not have made it.

"Spare you my humour?Do us both a favour and buy one!Ronit!You look like someone just run you over with a steam-roller.This old nutjob made you go through hell,didn't he?"

"Yes,you certainly made me slog my ass off,you bastard!!Why,even the goddamn nurses on this floor started whispering in hushed tones that there might be something going on between the two of us."A naughty smile crossed Ronit's lips.

"Really?I wonder what they might be thinking.Two gay old men.Inseparable.Staring lovingly into each other's eyes,holding each other's hands and watching the sunset together through the hospital window.Tch tch.Straight out of a Mills and Boons novel.No wonder the nurses are all excited about it."

"One of those nurses is a bomb!"Ronit's lips stretched back to reveal a toothless smile.

"And you were ogling her like anything,weren't you?You lecherous dawg!Say,was she the reason you put your arthritis-ridden back into caring for me?Man,she is one half of half your age.It's going to take a lot more than that to get into her..whatever it is you want to get into,"Sanjay's eyes lit up in wicked amusement.

"Bye,Sanjay," Ronit got up from his seat grinning."I will come down tomorrow.They will let you go in a couple of days.I am waiting for that day with bated breath. I soo want to beat the crap out of you and get you admitted again."

"No doubt so that you can have more staring time at that nurse,jerk.See you tomorrow,Ronit."

As Ronit turned to leave,Sanjay called out,"Hey ol chum!"

"Yeah?"Rohit turned back,that smile still plastered across his wizened face.

"You were never going to give up on me,were you?"

"Never."

****
A year flew by.Good times came and went.So did the bad.Until one day,Ronit was diagnosed with liver failure.The doctors announced that there was nothing they could do.He had a couple of weeks left at most.He was put on ventilator.His son was informed.

As Sanjay stared at his friend's still body ensnared in a mesh of medical equipment,an intense grief overcame him. Pain, memories, and questions sttarted haunting him. He wondered if he would ever be the same again.Whether he could ever really laugh, ever recover, ever be able to joke again. He felt that life would never be the same because this gaping big hole where Ronit was would swallow him up and never let him see the funnier side of life. His family had forsaken him five years ago.Left him to rot in an old age home.It was Ronit and his humour which made every passing day bearable for him.And now,even that would be snatched away.Ronit had saved his life more than once.He was more than a friend.He was the family which cried and laughed with him,when he cried about not having a family to laugh with.And now he could just watch him die.Helplessly.Hopelessly.


A week later Ronit passed away.

The nurse came and handed Sanjay a letter."It's from your friend,"she said.

Sanjay opened it immediately.Ronit must have written it during the little spells of consciousness he had in the past couple of weeks.
"Hey chum,missing me already?Cheer up,ol pal!Look at the bright side.You are now the undisputed chess and bridge champion of our home now.The only person who could have whipped your butt in those is pushing the daisies by now."

Sanjay's eyes swelled with tears.Ronit had sucked at both.And yet he had always stuck to the opinion that he was a better chess and bridge player than his friend.Sanjay wiped away his tears and continued reading.

"Now don't feel so glum,chum.I know you are feeling messed up.But for this old cronie's sake,just let the pain go.Don't even think about being disloyal to my memory and all that baloney.My dear wifey always used to say-the ultimate loyalty and honoring of what is lost is in remembering well and forging ahead by taking with you the best of your memories to inspire your way forward. Remember well to live well and you honor both yourself and me.

Good-bye old chum.I didn't give up on you.Don't you dare give up on me now.I would have to come back to haunt the living daylights out of you otherwise.You wouldn't want to give so much trouble to an old spooky arthritis-ridden ghost,would you?"

Despite himself,Sanjay smiled.He neatly folded the note and put it into his pocket.He looked one last time at the room where Ronit spent his last few days,patted the note in his pocket and said,"All right,ol boy!"

**The End**

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Something for you guys......

A year draws to a close on this day. :-) And so does my three-month stint in the blogoverse.This day,I think I should blog a little about tall the people who made my blogging experience so enjoyable and fruitful here.There are some bloggers I can't resist reading whenever they put something up. There are some I absolutely relish talking with. There are some who captivate me with their thoughts and ideas. Below is the list of those awesome writers I want to dedicate this blog to. Clicking on the pictures will take you to the blogger profile of the respective blogger.So keep clicking!!!!!!!:-)

Dawn Zhang  There are writers and then there are brilliant writers.She is one powerhouse of a content machine who packs such awesomeness in her creations that once you've read her ,you are left with just no option but to keep coming back to her.:-) She describes herself as a "feminist bitch". Don't know about the bitch part, but her strong and unequivocal writing tone has all the qualities of a warrior ready to kick any nuisance-maker's butt!	Philo Naughtiness and niceness live in perfect harmony in this just turned 18 girl. Her writings are good,her nature even better.She is one of those bloggers who make me smile when I am down and out.She is one of the reasons I keep blogging even when I feel like quitting.:-)	Menachery Well she is a model!Not only a fashion model,but a model friend and a model human being as well. She goes to such lengths to help out her friends which you cannot even begin to imagine.And despite being famous enough for Google to immediately recognize and suggest her name in searches,she is humility personified.She is one of those persons who make me believe that success doesn't always get to one's head. :-)
Crystal I often say of her writings,be they poems,stories or just reflections,that Awesomeness Has Just Been Crystallized. :-) A talented prodigy,she is just seventeen. One day we will read books written by her which will give Chetan Bhagat a run for his money.I am just waiting for that day with eager anticipation.	Red Handed  Funny,witty,intelligent,sensitive,amazing... I can run out of adjectives to describe her talent but I will never be able to do justice to her potential.One of the most popular bloggers around,I hope she continues to entertain and enthrall her readers like only she can.:-) I have no idea what she looks like.So I chose this picture for her...it has that mysterious aura to it....;-)	PeeVee  She creates multi-hued writings with a narrative style as fluid as water. Once you start reading her stuff you can't put it down.Plus her blog design is the object of a lot of people's envy and admiration.:-)
Spaceman Spiff  I find a lot of similarities between Spiff and Red Handed. Both are insanely humorous, intelligent and damn fine writers. And yes,Spiff is a die-hard Calvin & Hobbes fan.And Suzie is such an important part of that comics strip.I wonder why she doesn't change her name to Spacewoman Suzie.:-) But whatever name she goes by,her writing will always pack the punch of 10 thousand lighting bulbs!!!	The Dragon In the Skin Of a Goat Her name is Shetty,Priyanka Shetty. Considering her initials P and S,me thinks it would always make perfect sense for her BF/Husband to write a letter to her and ending it with "P.S. I LOVE YOU"....... ;-) My stupid jokes apart,let me tell you that this gal is absolutely kick-ass. She has been through a lot in her life,and every hardship has just strengthened her until she has become as sharp as steel but with a heart of gold.Some love her,some hate her.....some fear her......and she is one fantastic writer....and a fabulous human being....:-)	Aakriti   A soul with the gentleness of an angel, she is the embodiment of a lot of virtues which every parent want in their daughter. No matter how 'crappily' I praise her, she will flood me with profuse gratitude.She was my first follower by the way.....:-) and so somewhere in my mind her presence will always remain special.
Shreya You should read her poems. They will make you fall in love with poetry if you are not already.:-) Another talent powerhouse which makes my reading experience all the more rewarding.	Princess Fiona Wisdom and kindness personified, this lady from Scotland reinforces my conviction that there are still a few good men and women left in this world.And her poems....:-) Rhyming,rhythmic and meaningful....just the way I love them...	Rachika  She is fond of dark stuff. And yet she is a soft angel at heart. And I found just the right picture to represent her dichotomy. I wonder what she sees in my writings, to keep coming back to read them. Personally I think my writings are crap.But she....she makes me believe otherwise. :-)
Sakshi  Future MBA grad and successful corporate woman.:-) Presently a fabulous poetess, popular girl and in love with another MBA grad.:-) By the way, she spared no effort to pull me out of my sullen moods on a number of occasions too. A charming woman with a beautiful heart...need I say more?	Priyanka Kamath  One of m my very first followers and a superb writer.I miss her sometimes.She doesn't write as often as I would have liked.:-( Hope she starts writing more often......	Saumya Kulshreshtha   IAS aspirant,future administrator of our country and a person who has her life in perfect order. :-) Brimming with ideas and a storehouse of knowledge,she reads 5 newspapers a day.:-)  And she is a very nice person to talk to .....Trust me....Whenever you need an intelligent convo,dial S for Saumya.:-)
Saru Singhal, Meera Saundarajan,Sarah Malik, Blahblaholic are some of the other writers I enjoy reading. :-) Please don't feel offended because I am mentioning you people at the end. It's just that,I tried to find appropriate pictures for you guys....but couldn't.Probably because we haven't interacted that much,:-( Maybe once I get to know you better,I can come up with those....:-) My humble apologies... The End

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MIA

I have been missing in action for some while.Not too sure whether anyone noticed it,but anyway,I was away,you know, because of one of those zen things....the ones where you take a break from everything and then somehow come back magically turbo-charged with brilliant ideas and innovations which reshape the world.My ambitions were a lot less ambitious.Re-modelling the existing frameworks of human thought and life processes can wait.:-P I simply took an unannounced hiatus from blogging in the hope of some brain-wave striking me,which I could then translate into something awesome. Unfortunately,nothing happened.The 100-MW bulb which was supposed to lit up over my head never switched on.My Eureka moment never came to pass.I was even deliberating for a while on giving up blogging altogether.But all said and then,I think I should just hit the road with whatever ideas I have rather than wait for all the signals on the path ahead to turn green at the same time.:-) So I will be back soon.Don't expect anything out of the world from me.An average writer on the wrong side of 25 can only come up with so much.But I will be back definitely.If not with a bang,then just an inaudible pop!:-D

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My first blog award

So finally someone finally decided to give me a blog award! :-) It's about time.I was beginning to think I am such a crappy writer that people don't even consider my blog worth a look-see.

Thanks Nikhil Podder.I owe you one.*Hugs*

And here is my award:-

Let me tell you something about this dude called Nikiller who gave me this award. He is young.He is sharp.He is funny.An avid HP fan.And he has an opinion on a lot of things.Most of which will make you laugh your heart out.So go ahead......have a look see at this blog....:-) You won't regret it.

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Happy Birthday...........

So yesterday one of our beloved fellow-bloggers turned 18. :-) And on this special occasion, it would simply be wrong on my part not to pen a few words on her.

She is one of those bloggers who is full of wit and life. All the chat discussions I had with her were remarkably enjoyable and amusing. Her sparkling wit and positive energy has lifted me out of many a gloomy day.

She claims she is a bad person.Although,a more sensitive and kind-hearted blogger,I have not seen till now. :-)

She feels for other people in a way which makes me believe that there is still hope for mankind with persons like her around.

Now now Rahul,you flatter me too much!!!!*blush blush*

And now,to her writing.What can I say? Such mastery over the craft of creative writing at such young an age.She and Crystal continue to amaze me with each quantum of brilliance which they throw at us. Easy flow,gripping narrative,touching and relevant topics,her writing has it all. And she never posts without pictures. :-)  Psst..so now you get the drift as to why I have studded this post with pics,don't you??

So this friend of mine turned 18 yesterday.I know her by a certain name. The rest of you probably know her as Philo.
She writes here.
Please do join me in wishing this package of awesomeness one super-duper awesomalicious year ahead. :-)

Happy Birthday Philo!!!!!

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55 fiction

 He buried her teary face in his silent comforting chest. He wanted to tell his best friend so badly he loved her. But he couldn’t break her trust. Her boyfriend had broken that already. She never understood what he felt for her, he rued. Suddenly he felt her lips on his. Something new had begun.

P.S.Ok PeeVee this one is for you. :-) 55 fiction crossed off the list.

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Ideas please...

I was having a chat with a fellow-blogger today.She said I should expand my vistas......try another genre......explore new horizons....She even came up with some brilliant suggestions.
So it got me thinking.:-) Maybe I should try out something new.You know,get my lazy ass out of my comfort zone,rise to new challenges and all those sort of a thing.
So please pour in your ideas.I would love to hear them.What do you think I should try my hand at?The ones which appeal to me the most,I will definitely give them my best shot.
So please..please...please........be liberal with your suggestions.Fill this blog page with them. It's time the entertainment I provide shifts gears and explores new avenues.Your help is very much needed here. :-)

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The shit called love

"I wish I was born in New Zealand," Ashish rued."The girls out there are the horniest set of bitches on this planet.On an average,a New Zealand babe has  close to 21 sexual partners?21!!!Would you believe that?"
The average guy thinks about sex at least once a day.Ashish thought about it on an average of twenty times a day.

"Tch tch," Rohit replied absent-mindedly as he applied a blob of gel on his hair.

"I tell you we are in the wrong country dude!I mean,like the end of the world is hardly a year away.And you and I are gonna die as virgins.Shucks,man!"Ashish,visibly frustrated, looked at his flat-mate as if expecting some consolation.

"Just shut the hell up,"Rohit said in an exasperated tone as he tucked in his shirt while looking at the mirror."I am nervous as shit about this date thing.And all you can think about is fucking!"

"Sheesh!Just don't shit in your pants when you meet her,fucker,"Ashish chuckled.

Rohit wondered when was the last time he and Ashish had a talk which had nothing to do with male or female parts,porn or voluptuous celebrities.
"Dude,if you could only fuck with your thoughts,do you realize you would have become the father of the nation by now?"Rohit grinned at his flat-mate and then started combing his hair.

"Nyah.I would have conquered India ages ago.China,Pakistan and Bangladesh would be in my undies by now too," Ashish shot back.

Rohit smiled as he looked at himself one final time in the mirror.The amusement eased his nervousness somewhat.Hair.Check.Shirt tucked in correctly.Check.Jeans fitting.Check.He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.I just hope I don't mess up tonight!!he wished to himself desperately.

"Don't use up all the beer in the fridge,"he said as he stepped out of their flat."I might need it when I get back."

He was fighting with a feeling deep down that things might not go so well that night.He would say or do something outright stupid at the date and return to his flat feeling like a loser.A can of beer would again have to come to his rescue then.A shiny can of beer has been the knight in shining armor for many a dude in distress.Rohit could vouch for that any day.Or night.

***

"It's wrong Rohit.It's plain wrong.Two-timing is what ass-holes and bitches do," Mahima shook her head vigorously.

"Our first date and we are already talking about two-timing,"Rohit looked at her in an amused fashion."There's surely a great future ahead for the two of us.And by the way,just curious,but why do you think it is wrong?"

"It's just wrong.It's downright immoral."

"Exactly.But who decides morals?The moral idea of having only one partner at a time has been passed down and force-fed to us culturally by rulers, religions and women for centuries.But does that necessarily make it right?" Rohit asked her sharply.

"Well,you said it yourself.It has been in vogue for so long.There has got to be something right about it,right?Else it would have been discarded a long time ago."

Rohit just leaned back in his chair with a patronizing smile.

"What?"Mahima asked widening her big black eyes."You just gonna sit there and smile..or do you really have something to say on this?"

"Just this.If you look at it from a biological standpoint, it doesn't benefit women at all to have their man running around hitting the sack with other women. She can only carry one kid at a time, and she can only bring up a small number at a time, so having a man that's out sticking his dick into others is BAD BAD BAD news for her. When her guy's out distributing his semen, he can't be working or home helping. Even worse, he might have other kids with other women which will eat up his attention and income further. So anything that promotes monogamy, like religion, is seen as right to many women, as it goes along with what they know and feel is right."

"So men should just sleep around.Is that what you are saying?" She asked,her nostrils flaring in a cute way.She looked cuter when angry,Rohit concluded.


"I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with women's perspectives," he clarified." I'm just saying that if you look at it from women's point of view, she doesn't really gain anything by having a man that likes to sleep with a lot of women."

"And what about men?What benefits would they get?One flavor simply won't do,huh?You need to try out all the goodies in the ice-cream van,am I right?"

"Think about it. There are major advantages to guys...... or at least to their genes to sleep with many women. First, it doesn't take a lot of hard work, and there's virtually no risk.Sure,there is STD and stuff.But consider this.A man could probably sire a lot many children before a disease would take him out.Not a bad trade off,I say.Genetically speaking."

"Woaah,so we are back to the same thing," Mahima whined."Men should go around sticking their dicks into every chick possible."

"I am just saying  that men are probably biologically wired to look for sexual opportunities and sexual variety.But let me also add that just because you're wired to like sweet foods doesn't mean that you should only hog on sweet stuff. That will spell bad news for you too."

"Some swell date this is becoming,"she complained.

"You brought the topic up,"he smiled again.

"Let's change the topic."

"Amen to that."

"So tell me about Ankita,Rohit.Why did she leave you?Is it ok to share?"

Rohit knew this question would come up eventually.He steeled himself.Thinking about it still hurt.Bad.Talking about it was far worse.
"She had different priorities,"he answered slowly and with difficulty."I mean from her point of view,it's all ok.We weren't really a couple technically speaking.Just that we spent a lot of time together..and I..stupidly fell in love with her.So when the time came for her to leave...she just left."

"Just left?You didn't try to stop her?Tell her how you felt?"

"The day her flight was to leave,I went to the airport to bring her back.You wouldn't believe it but..my cab broke down 2 kms away from the airport.I actually ran the rest of the way.They wouldn't let me inside.So I purchased a 10 grand ticket just so that I could get inside the waiting lounge.I met her.That last time.I told her what I felt about her. But...she..well.....uhh..well things didn't work out.She left."

Rohit's eyes began to sting.Mahima watched as he tried to blink back a tear.

"Let me guess.You are going to tell me that something fell in your eyes,right?"She said,with the hope of lightening things up.

Rohit remained silent.

"Look Rohit,I am sorry to hear about Ankita.I guess you really felt she was the one,huh?"

"I was just being stupid,"he answered tersely.

"There was nothing stupid in it.You felt something for her.She didn't.Happens.I have been through the same a lot many times more than I am proud of." She touched his hand,trying to comfort him.

"I don't know,Mahima.All this stuff....the emotions....the pain....the blasted memories...they hurt...real bad.I don't know if... all this is really worth it."

"I know what you are going through.A couple of years back I was passing through a similar mess.I had a huge....and I mean a huge fight with my bf.I wanted to break up with him then and there.I wanted to just run away.Hide myself somewhere.Reset my life.Coz it seemed to have crashed completely.But then I discovered something."

"What?"

"Look.I don't believe in love in a something mystical sort of way, I don't think there is such a thing as the one. I mean,get real.There in no one person for you, there are many potential people for you. We like to call it love but in the end it is just another relationship.No relationship will just work, we make them work.Some are easier than others.Some are just worth more."


"All this sounds nice and all but...." Rohit started to interrupt but she silenced her with a gesture of her hand.


"I am not finished.I know so much has been said on how it's all a beautiful delicate balance and all that. Love is about meeting someone and growing with them.Blah blah blah. The reality is just that there will be downs, there must be so you will know, experience, and enjoy the ups. And trust me there will be ups. "


"You sure about that?" he smirked.


"I can bet my life on it.Don't give up on this shit called love, Rohit.You may not be able to make others love you but you can choose to love others and in doing so you ensure that someone else is loved. You have a gift see, it's your choice how you use it. There's so many different kinds of love. You will find someone, the trick is just to keep looking."

Rohit looked on at Mahima with renewed interest.There are some moments in life you can never correctly describe.In those moments,everything feels right and it doesn't seem anything can really go wrong.There is just  that beautiful feeling inside yourself .The feeling a kid has when he holds a long-awaited gift in his hands.

"You seem to be a nice guy,Rohit," Mahima's words interrupted his reverie."I would sure like to get to know you better.It's getting late and I have to go now.Can we meet again sometime?"

"I would love that," the words seemed to escape his lips even without his being aware of it.

"It's a deal then,"she smiled a glowing smile which warmed Rohit's heart.

Sometimes we fall for the wrong person.And sometimes we fall for just the right one.Whatever the outcome, the feeling of falling is unlike anything else.Rohit could not push off the feeling that his search might just have ended tonight.

Little did he know,he was just about to hit another speed-bump in Heartbreak Avenue.

**The End**

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In-TALKS-icated

"Would you believe me if I said I was a lesbian?" She asked Rohit playfully.

"Not a chance." Rohit summarily replied.

"Hey!!Why?You have no reason to assume I cannot be a les!" she said, putting her hands on her hips in a cutely indignant manner.He could almost feel his heart skip a beat.

"Throughout our entire conversation,you didn't eye a single chic," he said while pouring in vodka into his empty glass."Not even the red tank top bombshell who walked past us just few moments ago.You didn't even throw her a second glance.If an absolute knockout like her cannot make you turn her head,no gal can.On the contrary,I saw you steal glances at quite a few good-looking dudes here.So keep your lesbian nonsense to yourself.In fact,do me a favor and keep your entire self to yourself.Let me go back to my drinks.I picked the wrong gal to ask a phone number from.I get that.Now shoo away."

"Hey,no need to be rude here,"her voice seemed hurt.Was it feigned?Rohit couldn't figure out."I was just messing with ya!And dude,you are sloshed already.Right in front of me,you gulped down five pegs.You wanna get stoned or something?"

"Would you believe me if I said I get stoned every night?"He looked at her,fighting hard against the weight of his heavy eyelids.One bottle of beer.Followed by a splurge of vodka.He was having difficulty keeping his eyes open.

"I would have liked to say not a chance,but judging by what I have seen so far..." she left the sentence dangling teasingly.His vision was getting a bit blurry,but he thought he could make out a smile on her lips.

Rohit didn't utter a word.

"Hello?Had too much to drink?Can't talk right now?" She waved her hand animatedly in front of his face.

He just let out a rude grunt.

"Now I am curious.Just why do you get stoned every night?" She asked with a questioning look in her pretty kohl-lined eyes.

"A skewed sex-ratio in our country."The skewed sex-ratio in the country was at the heart of all his woes.To have a happy, active, fun-filled sex life in this country,you either had to be born as a female or not at all.At least,this is what Rohit thought.Substitute for good plentiful sex was good plentiful booze.And so it fell upon alcohol to fulfill the role of his rebound girl.He always looked upon alcohol as female.Just like women.,it was addictive and costly.And harmful in the long run.


"Love problems,huh?Tell me about it.I just broke up with my boyfriend  yesterday.We had been an item for three years.Three fucking years.I felt so messed up and shit,I cried the whole day yesterday.Would you believe that?!!!??"


For a gal,who just went through a traumatic separation from her lover,Rohit observed that she seemed to be in amazingly high spirits right now.Must be all that vodka she soaked herself in,he thought.She had downed four pegs of vodka in front of his very eyes.Heaven only knew how much she had before that. 

Gawd!!!I just hope she doesn't throw up on me!!!Rohit thought desperately.He had come to his friend's part just to hog on the free drinks.For quite understandable reasons, he didn't want a chance encounter with a lovely stranger at this heady venue to turn into a cloth-washing nightmare.


"I mean I was never good enough for that jerk," she suddenly became hysterical.Rohit grew even more alarmed.His story with hysterical women had been a history of misery so far.He didn't want another chapter of that history textbook to be penned that night.
"All the time,he used to compare me to some dumb-ass bimbo or the other who probably spend half their waking hours applying  make-up and adjusting their bras to turn their headlights on."


"Headlights?" Rohit asked groggily.


"Boobs."She explained contemptuously.


"Hmmm."Headlights.Equal to boobs.Rohit noted it down.


"And you won't believe what that ass-hole suggested to me when we broke up.He said I should get a boob-job done.Some cousin of his got it done recently.And now he was saying I do it too.That sonofa...I just don't get it.Why can't gals be satisfied with what they have?Why go to such extreme lengths to change your physical appearance to appease others?"


This girl was on the slimmer side.Which meant her headlights kind of lacked the glare which Rohit would have liked.But despite that,with her angelic face and petite figure,she could still make a lot of heads turn.That bf of hers had been a downright jerk.Or maybe just too damn awesome.Maybe he could just afford to throw away gals with enough hotness quotient to melt a hole through anybody's glasses.


"Ah well.Blame it on Cecil Beaton."Rohit answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Cecil who?"

"Marilyn Monroe.. along with many more awesome now-dead people -- was in reality rather more wrinkly, lumpy and human than we think. She owed a large portion of her image today to Beaton's camera and gift for flattery. Especially the latter, seeing as he edited the shit out of his photographs."

"Interesting.Go on."She said,her curiosity aroused.

"This dude Beaton.He was the Photoshop of his times.Sixty years before Photoshop 1.0 was launched, Cecil was toiling away in dark rooms with basic tools such as razor blades and markers, trimming waistlines, correcting bulges and sharpening features.And this fucker actually gained world-wide fame for his ability to make the rich and famous look unreasonably sexy."

"Uh..huh.."

"That fucker started this whole goddamn trend.Of editing celebrity photos to make them look stunning.Thanks to the photographers' and magazines' tendency to...how should I put it...creatively correct their shots, scores of girls grow up thinking stuff like blemishes, love handles and dull hair are shameful rather than the human norm, and therefore need to be hidden or otherwise dealt with."

"Damn him." She cursed under her breath.

"Human beings anyway are an unpredictable lot. I wish a day would come when they would be replaced by robots and we can all live in a world of predictability and order.No heart-breaks,no disappointments,no hurt expectations,no pesky mess butting its ugly head into our lives."Saying this,Rohit lapsed into silence again.


Presently,she asked,"So what's your story,hotshot?Which gal tore a hole through your stony heart?"

"It's a long story."

"Shorten it then."

"Boy meets girl.Falls in love.Girl breaks his heart and flies away to a different city.End of story."

"Boy!!!!You rattled this out almost as if you had memorized this shit.Just how many times have you told this to other people?"She shot out incredulously.

"Only about a hundred and forty two times.But to your credit,you are the first person who managed to wrest it out of me within less than half an hour of us beginning to talk to each other."

"That too someone you started talking to just because we lunged for the same vodka bottle at the drinks bar."She started giggling.Rohit felt as if he could hear bells chiming in the distance.Funny,he thought.Didn't this kinda stuff happen only in soppy Mills and Boons novels?Must be all that booze!!!!!!!Rohit could feel himself being slowly, but surely, pulled into a sleepy dreamy quicksand.

"So,no touch with her huh?"She asked again.Her voice seemed far off.Distant.Even her face seemed to be fading away.

"None whatsoever."

"You know maybe we should meet up again later.You seem to me a nice guy to ....... to."

And that was the last thing he remembered her saying before he dozed off.

***

He didn't wake up before morning.He was still at his friend's place.Several around him were still picking themselves up from the floor,the sofa or the chairs after last night's excesses.He looked around frantically.There was no sign of her.

He thought of asking his friend about the girl.But what would he ask?His memories of last night were a blur.All he could remember were snatches of that conversation.He wasn't even sure what the girl looked like or if he could even recognize her if he saw her at a distance.

Disappointed,he left his friend's home.And suddenly his phone beeped.It was a text from an unknown number.

"Hey hotshot!U stil remembr tht gal u talkd 2 ystrdy?Coz she stll rmmbrs u.Wanna meet up?U dozed off last nite.So I jst called up my phone frm urs 2 get ur numbr.Im sure u dnt mind,do u?:-) Cheers,Mahima."

Rohit's heart sang.The morning suddenly seemed brighter.The birds chirping suddenly sounded sweeter.He started whistling as he made his way home.

*The End*

P.S.This is a sequel to Love and other bugs. Don't worry,you don't need to read that in order to enjoy this story.:-)

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Love Game-Epilogue

Prologue
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V

Two guys were talking at a coffee-shop.
"Somehow I can't shake off the feeling that this is a bad idea," the first guy said.

"Ohh stop whining,dude,"the second guy chipped in."This guy is a pro.If anyone can help you,it's him."

"But what if he can't help me?" The first guy asked desperately."What if I am beyond anyone's help?"

"Six months ago,I was in the exact situation you are now.But this guy.He is a fricking magician.He brought things round.Today Megha and I are together just because of him.Haven't I told you all this a million times already?"

"All the same,"the first guy said skeptically," what if he plain refuses to help me?What if he thinks...I am just not good enough for Arushi?"

"Look,Sid," the second guy replied in a soothing tone,"all this guy needs to be sure of is that your feelings for the gal are genuine.That you won't dump her the first chance you get to sleep around with another woman.And I can vouch for you.How long has it been,Sid?Two years?Since she walked into your office?You have loved her since.If this guy was convinced I was hell serious about Megha,then you will pass with flying colors,trust me."

"You were head over heels in love with Megha,Saurabh.Anybody could see that."

"Was?I still am,dude.Will be for the next hundred years or so.And I can say the same about you and Arushi."

"So Anand referred this guy to you,did he?How did Anand get hold of him?"

"Through a friend of his.And that friend came to know about him from another friend of his.That's how this guy works.Referrals.He says that way he can be more certain that he gets to work with genuine cases.When he met me,he told me that it takes one real lover to find another.Weirdly enough,I think it all kinda makes sense .Anand is happily settled with Aakriti.He says he could never have had her had it not been for this guy's help.I can definitely say the same about me and Megha.And now I am referring him to you.I am sure you can add one more link to the chain." Saurabh beamed at Sid after saying the last sentence.

"You speak as if I have already won Arushi's heart," Sid replied in an unsure tone.

"You will,my friend.You will.Ahh look.Here he is."

Sid and Saurabh stood up to greet the man who just arrived at their table.

"How ya doing,Saurabh?" The guy greeted Saurabh with a warm dazzling smile."Everything fine between you and Megha?" The guy then looked at Sid and extended his hand,saying,"Hi,you must be Sid.My name is R.Saurabh told me all about you.Pleasure meeting you."

Sid took R's hand and shook it feebly.

"I understand you're having a problem with a woman called Arushi," R continued."Don't worry,I am here to take care of it."
                           *******************************************************

Acknowledgements:
Ahh well,finally the story is over.For a moment there I thought I would never complete it.But thanks to Philo,Princess Fiona and Menachery,I mustered what was needed to pull this off.With a few scratches here and there,but that's ok. :-)
I can't thank these three individuals enough,of course. Menachery always had her hate-antennae on for the protagonist of my story.Her involvement made me feel my writing is some Booker Prize material.And my writing got the ammo it needed to spew some more fire in the blogosphere.She herself is an amazing writer.And any admiration from an admirable writer sure does a lot to a fledgling blogger's sagging ego.:-) I owe you,Menu.Big time.
Philo.What can I say about her?Always asking me on chats if I have posted anything.Makes me feel that there is at least someone who really cares about whatever shit I dish out at you guys.Her enthusiasm regarding my stories is enough fodder for me to start writing at a furious pace again.And btw,did I mention,the stuff she writes is totally mind-blowing stuff? Such awesomeness from a gal who is just 17.Brilliance sure comes in young packages these days.
Princess Fiona.Ahh well.:-) She is the warmest individual I met on blogs till now.She genuinely seems to care.And her words are so sincere,helpful and kind,I can't help but wonder how much of generosity she must be carrying around in those 4 chambers of that heart of hers.I am glad I took up blogging.It's people like her who make me feel that blogging still remains one of the most powerful ways of meeting new and wonderful people.I am honored to have you as my follower,mam!*Respect*
And lastly,a big thank you to all readers who made it this far.:-) Reading long stupid stories isn't the best way of spending one's leisure time,I know.So I understand why not too many people are reading this story.But anyway,those who patiently managed to stick to this story till the end,they deserve a BIG HUG from yours truly.Thank you all.You guys make my day.Bye bye.
Ohhh and in case,some of you might be wondering,what happens to R after all this?Well,honestly I dunno.Maybe he will come back in a sequel.A Love Game:Level 2 perhaps?:-D LOL..........

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Love Game-Part V

Prologue
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV

I couldn't sleep.I couldn't rest.I could feel my heart sagging down into an empty pit of grief and torment. It began to feel like I have fallen and will never get up again. The darkness was creeping in on me.I had done something I could never forgive myself for.I had let myself down.

I had become a monster.
Rashmi had often begged me to leave Shalini and go back to her.All her desperate pleas had fallen on a deaf wall.I had cruelly stomped on her tender feelings.I hammered her,drove her insane and pushed her to a point where she couldn't face reality anymore.I never imagined anybody could love me this much.She sold herself to me,her trust,her vulnerability,she mortgaged everything in return for my affection.And I just took everything away from her and recklessly threw it away like a piece of crumpled paper.I couldn't face myself.How could I face Shalini?Just like Rashmi,I had ensnared her with manipulations and trickery.I was all hollow inside.I had nothing to offer her.The person who was ready to offer her his entire world,Adarsh,him,I had taken her away from.
***
"But R,I thought you loved me!!" Shalini stared back at me with teary eyes.
"Hah!Love?You? Did you know exactly how boring you are? Books and literature.That's all you care about.You used to drive me to tears whenever you started on one of those goddamn authors you enjoy reading so much." I retorted with an aggression which shocked her.
"But..all those talks we had...those long discussions.."
"All were a bloody lie,sweetheart.And you are so bloody dumb,you fell for that shit.Trust me,anybody with access to Google can find enough material to talk with you about.You just come too easy,bitch.It's so fricking easy to get under your pants,that I.."
"Shut the fuck up,R!!!"Her tear-filled eyes were now breathing fire."I can't believe what a sick,fucking low-life you are.How could you..."

"Oh spare me that moral science class," I barked."You ain't any Ms.Goody-two-shoes yourself.You had a guy who thought the world of you.And you just threw him out of your life like he was some broken furniture.Just so that you can get cozy with someone who is a little better than him in bed!"

Shalini's eyes were now spewing venom.She gave me one long look ,which was a mixture of hate and regret,and then ran out of my flat.
Hopefully into Adarsh's arms.


One day ago
"And what's the reason for this sudden kindness,may I know?" Adarsh made no attempt to conceal the sarcasm in his voice.


"I am not doing you a favor,Adarsh.On the contrary,I am asking a favor from you," I replied calmly." Take Shalini back.She would never have broken up with you had I not faked that bike accident.With me,it was all a lie.A big fat one.She loves you dude!I am just a sick bastard who should have known better than to come between the two of you."


"What's the reason for this sudden change of heart?" The sarcasm and incredulity had still not left Adarsh's tone.


"Repentance."


"Repent?For what?"


"A lot of bad stuff." I answered gravely."A lot."


"Look dude!If you think you can play the good Samaritan after all the shit you pulled on the two of us,and then just get away with it by throwing her back at me,you are dead wrong.Keep your charity to yourself.Shalini and I are over.You hear me?Over!"


"Don't lie to yourself," I locked my eyes with his."You still love her with all you got.I can see it in your eyes.She deserves better than this.You can give it to her.Don't rob her of what she deserves just because I managed to screw things up between you two.


I looked away for a moment and then added,"Just think about it."


One year later
I was at the mall and I saw Shalini and Adarsh walking together,holding hands.I caught her eye and she looked away immediately.

I just blinked back a tear.


*The End*

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Love Game-Part IV

Prologue
Part I
Part II
Part III

Six months passed away and I was still with Rashmi.That was the longest I have ever been with a woman. One dawn after a night of love-making,I dragged myself out of bed with a look of dismay on my face.
Rashmi urged me on:"Come,R, my flatmates will be back soon. You don't want anyone to find you here."

I gave a deep sigh, as if to say that the night has not been nearly long enough and that it is an agony to leave. Once up, I did not instantly pull on my trousers. Instead I came close to her and whispered whatever was left unsaid during the night.Even when I was dressed,I still lingered, vaguely pretending to be fastening my belt.
Finally,the two of us stood together by the side door while I told her how I dread the coming day, which will keep us apart; then I slipped away. Rashmi watched me go, and I knew that this moment of parting will remain among her most charming memories. Indeed, a woman's attachment to a man depends largely on the elegance of his leave-taking. When he jumps out of bed, scurries about the room, tightly fastens his trouser , rolls up the sleeves of shirt, stuffs his belongings into his pockets and then flees even without a proper kiss on her cheek—one really begins to hate him.

Each one of my moves was a calculated step planned way ahead.


I hit the gym soon after.As I was leaving,a girl caught my eye. Curly tresses,honey-like complexion and an intelligent gleam in her eyes. She was smiling as the trainer explained to her the usage of the various gym equipment. I couldn't help but stare at her. I had to approach her.I just had to.

"Hi,someone seems to be still in pretty good shape so many years after college," I beamed at her.

"What?" She turned towards me and immediately a look of surprise registered on her cherubic face."Woaah,R????? Is that you??How have you been?Gossh!!!It's been so long!!"

"But finally we met.Guess the world is a small place after all," my voice rang with an enthusiasm, which perhaps in a long time, wasn't the least bit manufactured or synthetic.

Here she was.Shalini.My college crush. One I spent restless nights fantasizing about. Throughout the four years of college. The perfect victim has some quality that inspires strong emotions in you, making your wooing maneuvers seem more natural and dynamic. The perfect victim allows for the perfect chase.

Finally,my perfect victim was here.

To hook up with Shalini,my method was simple:study her, go along with her moods, find out what was missing in her life,and provide it.I had to pretend to be well-bred, polite, and generous. We went on long drives together and discussed literature.A serious and high-minded girl, she came to depend on our friendship; here was a man she could talk to for hours.There was just one obstacle.She was seeing someone else.Adarsh. Nice guy. Totally devoted to Shalini. Too bad for him.He  fell in love with the same gal I had the eye for.

One day I pretended to be  upset and excited: I confessed that I was in love with her. She was going on a date with Adarsh that night, and this was not what she wanted to hear. She told me I should take a drive to calm down.Later that evening she received news: I had met with a bike accident. Feeling responsible for my accident, she rushed to me, found me in bed, and fell into my arms, unable to control herself. We two became lovers that night.


Of course,none of this was easy.All this while,I had to focus intensely on Shalini, fathom what she is missing, what she is disappointed by. People will often reveal this in subtle ways: through gesture, tone of voice, a look in the eye. By seeming to be what they lack, you will fit their ideal.To create this effect requires patience and attention to detail. Most people are so wrapped up in their own desires, so impatient, they are incapable of investing so much effort. But to me that is only a source of infinite opportunity.I just had to be an oasis in the desert of the self-absorbed; few can resist the temptation of following a person who manages to pull that off.I stayed awake at nights Googling the literature and topics she was interested in.I finished half of the books she mentioned she had found enjoyable.I kept at the whole thing.Until she had fallen under my spell.After that, just a little ruse or calculation was needed to seal the romance.A contrived bike accident was my last move.


I had never worked so hard on a seduction before. But then again,Shalini was different. She evoked in me the feelings which I could call the closest to love.I loved her from the first year of college. And holy shit,I was in love with her all over again!!!!!

Throughout all this,Rashmi kept bugging me with emails,sms-es and phone calls.She even resorted to threatening me.She was one pissed off bitch. I wondered why she couldn't just get the message. I kept ignoring her mercilessly like an insensitive brute. But she just wouldn't stop. Rashmi was from a broken family. Her parents separated when she was only seven. Her mom could never devote much time to her. There was an enormous void in her life, which craved to be filled with affection and endearment. She longed to fill herself with me.But I was busy making other plans.I just wished she would move on and forget the hell about me. Shalini and me was all that occupied my thoughts those days.

One day,I received a sms from her.
"I want you to know
That it doesn't matter
Where we take this road
But someone's gotta go
And I want you to know
You couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on
So I'm already gone"

Kelly Clarkson.Already Gone. That was her favorite song. She played it many a time on her guitar. I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally,she had just decided to let go and move ahead with her life.I couldn't help feeling a tinge of guilt about the way I was treating her. I wished her a happy journey ahead through a text message and left it at that.

Two hours later I got a call from Akshay.He was the guy at whose birthday party I met Rashmi.

"R?" His voice sounded a bit shaky. I wondered what was the matter.

"Hey bro,what's up?You sound a bit off.Is everything ok?" I said into the phone.

"R,Rash..Rashmi...she.. is no more...S.she..jumped off the roof of her building."

The phone fell out of my grasp.

To be continued.....

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Ab 'Bus' vi karo

Sweating my armpits off in a crowded bus isn't exactly my idea of fun.

The problem with sweaty underarms......

They STINK!!!!!!

Getting to sit in the bus is so distant a dream,so many light years away,that I don't even look around for who is vacating a seat in my vicinity.Hope is a killer 'coz it disappoints. Hoping for the rarest of rare opportunities for me to get a sitting place in a bus is one expectation I can do without.

Trust me....this really isn't that IMAGINARY!!!!

Riding in a packed public bus is a strenuous exercise routine in itself. I have no accurate way to calculate the amount of calories it consumes, but I am pretty sure it is more effective than all the weight-loss products they advertise on all those confounded tele-shopping programmes.

Now that I've told you a better,cost-effective way of burning fat,these guys are planning to sue the balls outta me!!!!!!

After an hour long journey in a bus from hell, my shoulders, arms and legs take a beating which the gladiators must have taken in the ol' days of Roman amphitheaters.

After the bus ride.

The amount of nudging, pushing, shoving, poking I am having to endure day in day out makes me feel that running a 10 km marathon would be a breeze compared to this. At least there my body will have more than a 6-inch radius circle to claim as its personal space. In an average  bus during those bloody office hours, a six-inch radius circle is a luxury which will be afforded to you only under the luckiest of circumstances.

In the three years I spent outside my home-town ,I always chose my home to be in an area close to my office.So all these sweet and pleasant,comfortable and cozy rides home which I get these days was an unfamiliar concept to me so far.When I was a student in my home-town, I mean I used to stare at those jam-packed buses and would be like 'Tch..Tch...How do these people even think about climbing into those pig-sty-like-crowded shit-boxes-on-wheels?'Well,now I know. Necessity is the mom of invention.This kind of suffering is the son of desperation. Public conveyance from my office area is always overflowing with commuters. Be it a hot stinky bus which charges 8 rupees or an AC Volvo which charges 20. Buses can't do without the crowd it seems. It is as important to it as the fuel it runs on.Sigh....

This pic is funny only as long as you are not in it..

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